A decade on, can Mini's new flavour lick the competition?

After more than a decade on the road Mini is trying to keep itself in the motoring zeitgeist with new flavours, from the estate Clubman to the SUV-like Countryman. More recently there have been the Cross, the Coupe (above), Paceman and Roadster, increasingly more niche and sometime bizarre.

Now the BMW-owned brand is working on a version that many thought would be the obvious offshoot from the start: a five-door Mini Cooper. Reports suggest work is under way.

While the Countryman is serving Mini fans who need more family functionality, a regular hatchback version, priced closer to the regular Mini, is likely to get a warm welcome.